2008 May 15

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Bead & Button Show June 5 - 8: Gary Helwig, inventor of the WigJig, will be demonstrating making jewelry using our WigJig tools at the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee, June 5th through 8th. For people attending the show, he will be demonstrating at the Soft Flex Company booth. You won't see WigJig listed as having a booth, look for the Soft Flex company. The show is held in the Milwaukee Midwest Airline Center; 400 W. Wisconsin Ave. You can find information about this show here.

California High School After School Program: At WigJig we like to support charities and other organizations that make jewelry out of wire and beads. This week we came across an after school program in the Country High School of Vacaville, CA that is teaching 10 High School girls with troubled backgrounds how to make jewelry. The goal of this program is to teach the students how to use their creativity to make and sell jewelry as a way to improve their self-esteem. We were able to contribute some samples and used tools and a few of our WigJig tools that had been returned to us opened. Shelley Dally reports that the group is happy to accept donations of serviceable wire, beads and or used tools. For anyone who would like to contribute to this program, please contact Shelley at SDally@VUSD.SolanoCOE.K12.CA.US You can view pictures of some of the participates at work above-right and one of their jewelry projects above-left. This reminds us of that old adage -- Give a woman a piece of jewelry and she'll be happy for a day, teach a woman to make jewelry and you'll save money for a lifetime. Isn't that how it goes?

We update the jewelry supplies that we have "On Sale" with every newsletter. A small sample of the products we have for sale at discounted prices are shown below. Please click on any of the links below the pictures to view our entire list of sale items. Select the picture itself to view that specific item in our Internet Store. This sale will be effective through May 30th 2008 or until we run out of that item.

Free Jewelry Making Design:

With every newsletter we provide a new jewelry design from WigJig University to spur the creative juices. The new design for this newsletter is the design for the Triangle Links Jewelry Wire & Beads Earrings shown left and right. These designs are a beginner's jewelry making projects and can be made on any WigJig jewelry making tool with three regular metal pegs. These earrings were made with 10 gauge wire and 1/2 hard wire would work best if it is available.

This design is one of several designs where we make two simple wire components and combine them rather than trying to make one more complex and difficult component. The secret in making these earrings is how we combine the two triangular shaped wire components. Please visit our instructions to see how easily these two triangular wire components can be combined.

Past Jewelry Making Techniques:

We maintain a techniques web page that provides links to the discussion of techniques in our prior newsletters. You can visit this web page here. Follow the links on that page to the discussion of the technique in that newsletter.

Current Jewelry Making Technique:

This week's jewelry making technique is a discussion on how to make a bead dangle. First let's define what we mean when we say "bead dangle". A bead dangle is a combination of one or more beads on a head pin or similar wire component in a manner that allows the bead or beads to hang from a jewelry component like an earring body. In short, a bead dangle is a way to use one or more beads to decorate a jewelry item. Being able to make a bead dangle is probably the one skill that defines a jewelry crafter as an advanced beginner rather than just a beginner.

A bead dangle comes in one of two styles. You can have an open loop bead dangle as shown above-left or you can have a wrapped loop bead dangle as shown above-right. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. The open loop bead dangle is easier to make and for this reason may be more suitable for beginners, it is also easier to use because you can add it to a jewelry item at any time. Unfortunately, an open loop bead dangle is not as strong as a wrapped loop bead dangle and for this reason may only be suitable for use in earrings where there isn't as much need for strength. The wrapped loop bead dangle is obviously stronger, but is also more difficult to use because it must be positioned prior to wrapping the loop closed, and then while in position must be wrapped closed. This can be difficult to accomplish in jewelry items with limited space. Many people also find that the wrapped loop bead dangle is more aesthetically pleasing -- it just looks slightly better.

Our technique for making the bead dangle requires a flush cutter, round nose pliers and bent chain nose pliers. When you are making the wrapped bead dangle, we recommend using two pair of chain nose pliers. The supplies required to make a bead dangle are generally just a head pin and one or more beads.

This week's featured design in our Nostalgia Corner is the design for our low wall bezel earrings shown here left and right. We really like this design because it is a way to use a larger gemstone in earrings, but isn't something that everyone has or even sees every day. These earrings are also very, very easy to make. Anyone who can use a pair of chain nose pliers and can also pick up a toothpick, can make these earrings in less than 10 minutes. We have the findings to make these earrings in 10mm and 8mm sizes. Because the low wall bezel finding hides some of the gemstone, the size of the gemstone is minimized. Phrased another way, an 8mm gemstone set in this setting will appear to be 7mm in size. For this reason, we do not carry 6mm findings. We do sell these earrings in a kit for $13.99 in 8mm gold filled or for the same price in 8mm sterling silver. We really believe that this is a great way to get started making "More Bling for Less Cha-Ching" jewelry and is especially appropriate for people who sell jewelry. We have a video on You Tube showning how to make these earrings that you can view by selecting here.

Jewelry Making: From beginner to expert levels

Welcome to the wonderful world of WigJig Jewelry Making! WigJig.com is your perfect resource for the most beautiful, elegant and fun jewelry making techniques, jewelry making supplies, wire jewelry making advice, jewelry making tools, jewelry making instructions videos and much, much more!
Searching for one, particular technique for making jewelry that suits both your jewelry making skill level and your interest? Explore our WigJig Jewelry Making Learn section to discover clear and versatile jewelry making designs and WigJig patterns for:

Necklace Making

Bracelet Making

Ring Making

Beads

Jewelry Wire

Our unique Learn section will help you find the jewelry making designs and jewelry making techniques intended for your level of jewelry making expertise. You'll learn easy methods for making jewelry that looks beautiful! This outstanding, encyclopedic WigJig University of information is an exclusive jewelry making hub that few jewelry tools vendors or jewelry making techniques resources offer jewelry making experts and beginners.

WigJig has the expert jewelry making advice to help you create the right jewelry for any occasion. Whether it's a for a holiday ornament, birthday present or just a gift to say thank you, WigJig has the jewelry making designs, beads, wire jewelry supplies and jewelry making techniques that are right for you.

WigJig.com has patented WigJig patterns for jewelry making and jewelry making techniques that make your jewelry making designs even easier to complete. WigJig jewelry making jigs are our own you can't find through your average jewelry making class. We also offer jewelry making tools that no one else has - our amazingly helpful WigJig jewelry making jigs! Our WigJig jigs help you with making jewelry effortlessly and other WigJig jewelry making tools are helpful for anyone, whether you're a beginner who's new to jewelry making or up at the Intermediate levels of jewelry making and wire jewelry expertise.

So explore, enjoy, learn and create! Let WigJig.com inspire you and your jewelry making creativity to take flight!